Jaipur: Number of patients at SMS Hospital dipped in 2015

For the first time, since the launch of free medicine and diagnostic test schemes in the state in 2011, Sawai Man Singh - the biggest government hospital in the state - witnessed a dip in its out-patient department (OPD) registration in 2015.TNN | Updated: January 26, 2016, 10:19 IST

What is endometrial cancer? (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)Jaipur: For the first time, since the launch of free medicine and diagnostic test schemes in the state in 2011, Sawai Man Singh - the biggest government hospital in the state - witnessed a dip in its out-patient department (OPD) registration in 2015.

Besides, numbers of emergencies attended by the hospital have also decreased.

In 2014, more than 29.6 lakh patients were registered at SMS Hospital's OPD, which were reduced to 28.7 lakh in 2015, as per the figures released by SMS Hospital on Monday.

According to the figures, the OPD registration numbers in 2011 were 12.12 lakh, which increased to 18.73 lakh in 2012, and it continued to increase further with 25.52 lakh and 29.6 lakh patients in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

The driving force behind the increasing number of patients to the hospital was implementation of free medicine and free diagnostic test schemes. The schemes also attracted patients from other nearby states such as Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

He pointed out that the decrease in number of patients' registration in the OPD could be because 2015 was a relatively healthy year as compared to 2014. "We have not received patients of cough, cold and fever like we did in 2014. Year 2015, was a relatively healthy year compared to 2014, which is perhaps why there were fewer patients in 2015," Dr Sharma said.

Meanwhile, he said that Jaipuria Hospital - another government hospital - has attracted patients due to improved healthcare facilities.

"Jaipuria has improved its facilities. So patients might be going to Jaipuria for treatment. But it is good if patients are going to other hospitals for treatment as for the past few years, the patients were continuously increasing in number and SMS Hospital has limited resources," Dr Sharma said.

He said that to convert SMS Hospital into a referral hospital is not possible. "Even AIIMS is not a referral hospital. If a patient comes to SMS Hospital directly, we cannot deny him of healthcare facilities. So it is not possible to convert it into referral hospital with an aim to decongest the hospital," Dr Sharma said.

The number of emergencies have also reduced in 2015 as compared to 2014 for the same period. In 2015, the hospital attended to 2.73 lakh patients, while in 2014, it was 2.96 lakh.